Five Things

by Michele Boy | January 25, 2024

If I described the climate here as cold, wet, foggy, with snow packed, slick, icy roads, you would not picture Syracuse, Kansas. Yet here we are. If you aren’t driving in it, it really is quite beautiful. And I am excited for the moisture on the planted wheat. 
It was a unique day at church Sunday. A lot of the normal praise songs, choir leader, and music elements were gone due to integral people missing. My daughter asked me if I would do children’s church. I decided why not and winged it. 
It turned out good. We laughed, talked, and danced a little. It was a wide variety of ages but it went well. It turned out the lesson I taught, I needed this week too. Funny how God works huh?
Finding joy when things are tougher isn’t easy. I read somewhere that this time of year is the bleakest. We are excited for spring and the darkness of winter can cause depression. No this is not what I taught the kids haha. 
But I did discuss looking for five positive things when we are sad, hurting, or frustrated.
If I focus on the negative, I could say it’s cold and bleak out, I’m not feeling the best. I want to go running but my lungs were not on board, and my hair didn’t turn out how I wanted. One night I didn't sleep, at all, for no reason, and the day ahead was exhausting, frustrating, and difficult. 
I’m just giving random things. A number of things were worse. And I admit during those moments, I didn't remember my "five things" speech.  I may have cussed a little. Shh.
 When my list was done I felt worse. But later, after I slept, I remembered to focus on five things that are positive. It improved my mood tremendously. My family is healthy, I am one book ahead in the annual reading challenge, I helped someone this week, and even though the workout wasn’t what I wanted I still completed one. Every crunch of ice or snow means moisture for our crops. I have heat, food, and shelter. My daughter’s basketball game didn’t go the way I wanted but I was proud of her improvement. 
The list goes on. And that’s good. Stop for a minute. Tell yourself five good things about today. Name something your excited for. 
Does it make all the pain go away? Nope. Does it remove heartache or hard times? No. I can't feed my family on five positive things. I can't bring back loved ones from the grave. But if you are still alive and breathing, there is hope. And I am praying today that you find hope. Maybe five things is your start. 
 Proverbs 17:22 - A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Wishing you joy and laughter.  Remember that song Keep on the Sunny side?  It was written by Ada Blenkhorn in 1899. Her nephew was in a wheelchair and wanted to be pushed on the sunny side of the street. 
Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side,
Keep on the sunny side of life;
It will help us every day, it will brighten all the way,
If we keep on the sunny side of life.